5 comments about Additions: Your Guide to Planning and Remodeling (Better Homes and Gardens).

1. I found this book to be a helpful overview of the many consideratons that must be taken when considering an addition. There were many examples of different before and after floorplans, as well as photographs of beautifully done additions. There are different types of additions listed along with examples, and checklists to use as you progress.



2. Just what we were looking for, this great little book has lots of color photos and lots of info to help my wife and me decide what kind of addition might be right for our house. We don't want to build an addition ourselves but want to get a basic plan in mind before going to an architect or builder. Thanks to the advice in this book, we think we now have a good plan in mind for an addition that won't look tacked on but will look as if it belongs to the house.



3. The kitchen volume of this series is much more detailed. Since there are lots of different types of additions for lots of different reasons, it's hard to get into much detail in one book. Still, the advice it does dispense strikes me as sound. It includes a checklist of things you will need to look after if you decide to act as your own contractor, or just check up on if you hire a contractor.

   tis is a fine book for those in the early stages of planning an addition who have no experience of such matters.




4. We are working on doing an addition to our home. We were floundering in making decisions until we came across this book. This book has pictures and ideas and before and after photos and drawings. All of this has been useful in making some decisions before we begin spending money on a contractor, architect or supplies. The text of this book is as helpful if not more so than the pictures. The text discusses types of addition, things to consider, and so on.

   I would strongly suggest that anyone thinking of doing an addition consider reading this book before doing anything.

   Well worth the money.




5. I thought this book was worthless and a waste of my time. It covered the obvious. I was expecting to see more remodeling ideas.

No comments about Great Baths Collection.

No comments about Popular Mechanics Garage Makeovers: Adding Space Without Adding On (Popular Mechanics).

1 comments about Black & Decker Fences, Gates & Garden Walls: Includes New Vinyl Fencing Styles (Black & Decker).

1. We were so impressed with how well detailed this book was. It made our project so much easier.

3 comments about The New Smart Approach to Kitchen Design (New Smart Approach).

1. The New Smart Approach To Kitchen Design by home design expert Susan Maney is a practical and "user friendly" guide to creating aesthetically pleasing as well as practical and functional kitchens. More than 260 quality color photographs bring visual life to the descriptive ideas, recommendations, projects and concepts presented in the pages of this superbly presented volume. A pleasure simply to page through while contemplating interior decorating plans, The New Smart Approach To Kitchen Design is a welcome and recommended addition to any personal or professional Interior Design reference collection.



2. Beautiful pictures and lots of styles for a more traditional and conservative look for your kitchen. This book would fit your needs perfectly if you like practical & cottage-style kitchens.



3. This is a beautiful book. Lot's of glossy photographs of gorgeous kitchens in a wide variety of architectural styles. Many of the kitchens include outside gardens and such for character. A great book for kitchen design and re-modeling ideas.

2 comments about Bathrooms: Just Add Water.

1. I would give this book 10 stars if I could. We're in the process of building our home, and trying to complete 3 stylish, functional bathrooms on a very tight budget. This book arrived just in time for us. "Just Add Water" is jam-packed with practical ideas that cover a wide range of styles, bathroom sizes and budgets. It's important, however, to read the text in this book and not just look at the beautiful coffee table-worthy photographs - otherwise, you may come away with the impression that the bathrooms shown in the book are only for those with very deep pockets. With a little imagination, it's possible to translate the practical ideas in this book to solutions that work in your own home.



2. This magnificent book will help you formulate what you want, from a personal style perspective. Truly brilliant and at the very top of the design world - typical of Terence Conran!

5 comments about Sunset Building Barbecues & Outdoor Kitchens.

1. This gives details from the concrete support to tiling the countertops. It even shows how to brick a patio or walkway for an outdoor grilling area. The only problem is picking out a design from the many listed.



2. There are some really great ideas in this book...want ot start building them all!
   
   If you are looking for outdoor kitchen ideas, grill plans, Barbeque (the real wood burniung smokehouse style, not propane grill) outdoor fireplaces, etc. This is the best book to buy and start building!



3. There were not too many books on the market when I decided to build my own barbque. This book helped me understand what I was getting myself into, but it fell short of giving me all the information I needed for my project. But it was a good resource. 3 out of 5 stars!



4. NEVER RECEIVED THE BOOK - COMPLAINTS DID NOTHING BUT WAISTE MY TIME AND MY TIME IS WORTH MORE THAN A $10 BOOK



5. I wish someone would realize that we all don't want our entire yard taken up with an outdoor kitchen. The directions were okay but save your money. Go buy a decent grill and have fun!

5 comments about The Woman's Hands-On Repair Guide.

1. I found this book to be very helpful when faced with a leaky faucet and a defective oven heating element. It is simply written and easy to understand. The illustrations are especially helpful and clear. This book is a wonderful reference and makes a great gift for all occasions.



2. This book isn't as comprehensive as I would have wanted. The information is basic and geared towards someone who has never held a screwdriver in her life. Although the repairs she reviews are thorough, I was hoping for something that focuses on more complex issues.



3. I got this book from a relative for Christmas and since then I've actually known what a hammer was for! Up until then I was using it to tenderize meat for my big guy (he beat me up when he found out I used his hammer this way - dummy me). Anyway, now my small woman - sized brain can almost - almost - understand the things that men do. I feel so much closer to being human now, though I would never let on to my mas..., er, husband. I'm sure that's what the author had in mind. After all, she must know what it feels like to be a woman, too.



4. I thought this book was fantastic! I like to consider myself "handyman challenged", but with this book, I actually took apart a sink drain and put it back together! Correctly and working I might add.
   
   This book has lots of tips and tricks for basic maintenance and household repairs. It describes what you need to do step by step.



5. Well, this is the deal here. I didn't order this book, but when it came I kept it because it looked interesting. It was, I guess. The information is simple and easy-to-grasp. I am somewhat offended by the implication that women need special books written in 5th grade language to accomplish tasks around the home that must be easy for men. Something wrong with that thinking. Nevertheless, the book is in my repairs reference section of the bookcase in case I need a quick look sometime.

5 comments about Peak Oil Prep: Prepare for Peak Oil, Climate Change and Economic Collapse.

1. I have been reading this book, and am mostly through it - enough that I feel that I can render an opinion on this.
   
   First, please note that I subscribe to the theory of peak oil - it's a question of when, not if - and ecological
   living.
   
   Having said that, the book frankly lacks focus and is somewhat sophomoric in its approach. It seemed less focus on life when energy is no longer affordable and more on promoting a certain view of how things should be. Really, he spends very little time writing and more time giving massive blocks of internet references that seemed to have passed his filter of political correctness than utility. For example - he talks about home power generation, and then appears to have ignored an all-purpose website - Home Power magazine -for reasons unknown, other than perhaps the magazine doesn't pass his concept of correctness (after all, it is available at Barnes and Noble). Another case in point - heirloom seeds. A very good idea - but his one source is some kind of communal seed outfit. A fast internet search shows a dozen or so outfits from Burpee on down. I'd prefer working with someone who actually tests their seeds in multiple environments.
   
   Most of the book seems focused on socialized/communal living. For example, he promotes the idea of cohousing - which is fine - but his example is the N street housing complex in Davis California, which adapts the idea a couple of steps further where everyone proceeds to eat in communal settings. There are many other examples that can be found that may be more palable to ones living rather than be forced to come under someone's else's idea of political correctness.
   
   Indeed, he talks about Cuba as a shining example of a country that has passed through Peak Oil, and how wonderful life is there now - ignoring one very obvious fact that Cuba has milder weather than most of the US - at least I am not aware of Havana having snow storms - which makes life much easier. And I didn't need a paragraph on how the US doesn't allow travelers to visit Cuba in a book about survival after peak oil.
   
   Indeed, one of the things he promotes is moving to smaller communities - 5000 people or so. Somewhat elitist - I've run into many, many people who can barely keep food on the table and a roof on their heads, and somehow I cannot see them packing up into a beat up old car and driving to sunnier climes to an uncertain economic future.
   
   Finally, he shows little imagination about how life may really be like when the crunch does hit. For example - one of the things he talks about is using the internet for communications after peak oil starts rippling through the economy. An interesting concept, given that there is a debate among people in information technology as to whether or not the internet is a massive energy hog. Certainly having to run multi-terabyte server farms 24/7 cannot be done with 300 watts.
   
   This is not to say that the book won't get you thinking at least - it will - but some of the insitutional reviewers indicated that it was a blueprint for living after peak oil - I'd call it less of a blueprint and more of a sketch - with many details omitted and not well thought out.
   
   One other thing - he promotes three big ideas - they are using compact flourescent bulbs, planting a garden, and biking to work - and all I can say is - "Duh".



2. Although many books on Peak Oil seem to be trying to get people to be scared of the future without cheap oil, this one actually has page after page of suggestions of things to do to get ready for a different style of living, and web sites to visit for more information. It covers just about everything, from using CFLs to growing your own food, getting solar, or buying an electric car. Very well researched.
   I recommend it for anyone who has "got it" about the Peak Oil Problem.



3. This is a great book that lists a few things you can do in a variety of categories for Peak Oil.



4. I liked this book and I don't regret that I bought it but I like the book a little and not a lot. It's too simple but it's a great starter for the laymen and those who are just waking up to "peak oil." The saving grace of the book is that the author has collected many sources of information and websites, and references other books that are helpful. If you don't have a lot of time searching the web, this book helps taking you to the correct spots. As for his suggestions, I think many of them are a little too simple to help the average Joe and Jane. I do like page 26, Scapegoats, "It's important to realize that no single individual or group is responsible for Peak Oil. In fact, nobody is single-handedly responsible. Peak Oil is simply a geologic reality; a result of the fact that there was always a certain amount of petroleum in the earth; no more, no less. When we as a global society have extracted half of that amount, we have reached peak, and from then on there will be less and less available. No ethnic minorities are responsible, no racial groups, no religious groups, not even any particular political party or political system. It was all of us." Wow! Refreshing to hear someone who knows what they are talking about. Yes, all 6.5 billion of us. When my Granddaddy Andrew Jackson Crump was born in 1889, there were no cars in the USA and only 142 miles of paved roads. When I was born there were only 150 million Americans and only 2.5 billion people on the earth and gas was .25 cents per gallon. It's easy to blame. Blame Republicans, blame Democrats, blame OPEC, blame oil companies. Doing this gives you a villain and allows your brain to shut down and you no longer have to think. Nothing is your fault, it's someone else's fault and you are on the side of the good guys. Nuts! The truth is that we have 6.5 billion people on the earth and we are sucking it dry. The car population and the human population are now growing faster than our ability to dig up minerals and other declining natural resources. 80% of Mr. Winter's book is useless to me, but there are a few links and things I learned which overall made it worth while. Regards, Keith Renick, Peachtree City, Ga.



5. This is like a 'climate change for dummies' book. Except the 'for dummies' series actually has some merits.
   
   For instance this book in the 'top three things you can do' includes:
   a: changing to fluorescent lightbulbs
   b: walk or ride a bike
   c: plant a garden
   
   Want more peak oil advice? How about "Create a neighbourhood and community arts program." or, "Start a compost pile."
   
   I mean really. This book is obviously for suckers like me who would buy it off the internet on the strength of the title.

2 comments about Sunset Ideas for Great Tile (Ideas for Great).

1. Very inspiring book with beautiful pictures! Also provides good shopping guidelines and basic tile facts. Good overview of the different kinds of tile from man-made to natural. Also covers maintenance. Very helpful tool for anyone in school, in the business, or looking to improve their home!



2. I was disappointed. As most books, there is always something of value. I did like that the book went over different types of tile and how and when to use them but overall it didn't provide me with much interest or benefit.